Apparatus for removing deposits from enclosed chambers

Abstract

A cleaning unit (A) includes a movable cart ( 20 ) which carries a cleaning system for cleaning baked-on residues from walls ( 10 ) of a sterilizer chamber ( 12 ). The cleaning system includes a lid ( 80 ) which is mounted over an opening ( 82 ) to the chamber. In one embodiment, the door ( 232 ) of the chamber provides the lid. An articulating nozzle ( 124 ) extends from the lid into the interior of the chamber. Alkaline and acid cleaning solutions ( 180, 182 ), for removing organic and inorganic residues, respectively, from the chamber, are stored in two storage containers ( 52, 54 ) carried by the cart. A first pump ( 60 ), mounted on the cart, pumps first the alkaline, then the acid cleaning solution to the nozzle. A second pump ( 62 ), mounted on the cart, connects with a scavenge fitting ( 166 ) in the chamber to return the cleaning fluid to the respective storage container. After cleaning is complete, the two cleaning fluids are mixed together to form a neutral or near neutral solution which is disposable in a sanitary sewer system without further treatment.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment, the invention is now claimed to be:  
     
       1. An apparatus for removing baked on residues from a sterilizer chamber, the apparatus comprising: 
       a supply of cleaning fluid;  
       a lid for closing an opening to the sterilizer;  
       a nozzle mounted to the lid for spraying the cleaning fluid into the chamber, the sprayed cleaning fluid removing baked on residues from the sterilizer chamber;  
       a first fluid supply line fluidly connecting the supply of cleaning fluid with the nozzle;  
       a first pump fluidly connected with the first fluid line for pumping the cleaning fluid to the chamber;  
       a second pump for pumping the cleaning fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including: 
       a movable cart, the cart including:  
       a storage bin for holding a plurality of interchangeable lids of different sizes.  
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle delivers the cleaning fluid at a pressure of from 3.5 to 85 Kg/cm 2 . 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes: 
       an articulating spray head which is powered by pressure of the cleaning fluid entering the nozzle.  
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spray head articulates about three axes. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
       a moveable cart which carries the supply of cleaning fluid and the first pump;  
       an outlet in the lid through which sprayed cleaning fluid can be withdrawn from the chamber;  
       a second fluid supply line fluidly connected with the outlet, the second pump being carried by the cart and fluidly connected with the second fluid line for removing the cleaning fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second fluid line is connected with the supply of cleaning fluid. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the supply of cleaning fluid includes: 
       a reservoir of a first cleaning fluid; and  
       a reservoir of a second cleaning fluid;  
       the apparatus further including:  
       a first three way valve for selectively connecting one of the reservoir of the first cleaning fluid and the reservoir of the second cleaning fluid with the first fluid line, and  
       a second three way valve for selectively connecting the second fluid line with one of the reservoir of the first cleaning fluid and the reservoir of the second cleaning fluid.  
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further including a source of rinse fluid which is carried by the cart and is fluidly connected with the nozzle. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 6 , further including: 
       a heater carried by the cart for heating the cleaning fluid, the heater being fluidly connected with one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line.  
     
     
       11. An apparatus for removing baked on organic residues and inorganic residues from a chamber, the apparatus comprising: 
       a first cleaning fluid reservoir which holds a first cleaning fluid for removing organic residues;  
       a second cleaning fluid reservoir which holds a second cleaning fluid for removing inorganic residues and passivating the chamber;  
       a nozzle for spraying the cleaning fluid into the chamber, the sprayed cleaning fluid removing baked on organic residues and inorganic residues from the chamber;  
       a first fluid supply line fluidly connecting the first and second cleaning fluid reservoirs of cleaning fluid with the nozzle;  
       a first pump fluidly connectable with the nozzle and the first and second cleaning fluid reservoirs for pumping the cleaning fluid-to the chamber;  
       a second pump fluidly connectable with the chamber for pumping the cleaning fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including a lid mountable across an opening to the chamber, the lid having an aperture, the nozzle being connectable with the lid such that the nozzle is fluidly connectable with the first pump through the lid aperture. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber includes a door for closing an opening to the chamber, the door having a central aperture, the nozzle being mountable to the door adjacent the aperture such that the door aperture fluidly connects the first pump with the nozzle. 
     
     
       14. A method of removing baked on residues from a sterilizer chamber, the method comprising: 
       mounting a lid over an opening to the chamber such that a nozzle mounted to the lid extends into an interior of the chamber:  
       pumping a first cleaning fluid from a first source of cleaning fluid to the nozzle;  
       spraying the first cleaning fluid from the nozzle over walls of the chamber to remove baked on residues from the chamber walls;  
       pumping the sprayed first cleaning fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lid is provided by a door of the chamber, which selectively closes the chamber opening, the door having an aperture formed therein. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein pumping the sprayed cleaning fluid from the chamber includes: 
       returning the sprayed first cleaning fluid to the first source of cleaning fluid.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein pumping the sprayed first cleaning fluid from the chamber is carried out simultaneously with pumping a first cleaning fluid from the first source of cleaning fluid to the nozzle and at a sufficient rate to create a negative pressure within the chamber. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein spraying the first cleaning fluid from the nozzle over walls of the chamber includes spraying the first cleaning fluid at a pressure of from 3.5 to 85 Kg/cm 2 . 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein spraying the first cleaning fluid from the nozzle over walls of the chamber includes: 
       spraying the first cleaning fluid from an articulating spray head which is powered by pressure of the first cleaning fluid entering the nozzle.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the spray head articulates about three axes. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14 , further including: 
       transporting pumps for pumping the cleaning fluid to and from the chamber and the cleaning fluid supply to the sterilizer on a moveable cart.  
     
     
       22. A method of removing baked on residues from a sterilizer chamber, the method comprising: 
       mounting a lid over an opening to the chamber such that a nozzle mounted to the lid extends into an interior of the chamber:  
       pumping a first cleaning fluid from a first source of cleaning fluid to the nozzle;  
       spraying the first cleaning fluid from the nozzle over walls of the chamber to remove baked on residues from the chamber walls;  
       pumping the sprayed first cleaning fluid from the chamber;  
       after pumping the first cleaning fluid to the nozzle, spraying the first cleaning fluid from the nozzle over walls of the chamber, and pumping the sprayed first cleaning fluid from the chamber:  
       pumping a second cleaning fluid from a second source of cleaning fluid to the nozzle;  
       spraying the second cleaning fluid from the nozzle over the walls of the chamber;  
       pumping the sprayed second cleaning fluid from the chamber; and  
       spraying a rinse fluid from the nozzle over the walls of the chamber.  
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further including, after pumping the second cleaning fluid to the nozzle, spraying the second cleaning fluid over the walls of the chamber, and pumping the sprayed second cleaning fluid from the chamber: 
       mixing the first and second cleaning fluids together to form a solution of neutral or near neutral pH.  
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein: 
       the first cleaning fluid is formulated for removing organic residues from the chamber walls; and  
       the second cleaning fluid is formulated for removing inorganic residues from the chamber walls.  
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein: 
       the first cleaning fluid is an alkaline cleaning fluid; and  
       the second cleaning fluid is an acid cleaning fluid.  
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 22 , wherein: 
       pumping and spraying the first cleaning fluid include continuously recirculating the first cleaning fluid through the chamber for a period of about 1 to 2 hours; and  
       pumping and spraying the second cleaning fluid include continuously recirculating the second cleaning fluid through the chamber for a period of about 1 to 2 hours.  
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 22 , wherein one of the first and second cleaning fluids includes an acid which removes baked on inorganic residues from the chamber and the other of the first and second cleaning fluids includes an alkali which removes baked on organic residues from the chamber. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus for removing baked on residues from a sterilizer chamber, the apparatus comprising: 
       means for mounting a lid over an opening to the chamber such that a nozzle mounted on the lid extends into an interior of the chamber;  
       a means for pumping a first cleaning fluid from a first source of cleaning fluid to the nozzle such that the nozzle sprays the first cleaning fluid over walls of the chamber, thereby removing baked on residues from the walls of the chamber; and,  
       a means for pumping the sprayed first cleaning fluid from the chamber.  
     
     
       29. An apparatus for removing baked on residues from a sterilizer chamber, the apparatus comprising: 
       a reservoir of an alkaline cleaning fluid;  
       a reservoir of an acid cleaning fluid;  
       a lid configured to close and seal an opening to the sterilizer;  
       a nozzle mounted to the lid which sprays the acid and alkaline cleaning fluids into the chamber, the sprayed cleaning fluids removing baked on residues from the sterilizer chamber;  
       a first fluid supply line selectively fluidically connects each of the reservoirs with the nozzle;  
       a second fluid supply line carries the cleaning fluids from the chamber;  
       a pump pumps the acid and alkaline cleaning fluids from the chamber through the second fluid supply line.